From exotic jungle to coastal desert via the breathtaking peaks of the Andes, Peru’s

staggering variety of places to visit. Whether you want to trek the hallowed Inca Trail,

drink pisco sours in a sleepy colonial town, swim with pink dolphins or paddle your

way down the Amazon in a dugout canoe, this is a country that’s ripe for exploring.

Wherever you go, Peru’s vibrant Andean culture, one of the most exciting in the

Americas, will brighten your travels.

For those looking for adrenaline-fuelled fun, a host of outdoor activities are on offer,

from trekking ancient trails and whitewater rafting to paragliding and hurtling through

the desert on dune-buggy rides. For all this, Peru in an amazing country you will find

unique locations, a mix of culture, exotic food and an unforgettable experience.

The stunning Peruvian site of Machu Picchu, the fabled "lost city of the Incas," is

South America's greatest attraction.

The grassy terraces and stone staircases of Machu Picchu lure you to explore and

view the Royal and Sacred Areas, including the Temple of the Sun and

the Intihuatana -- the most important shrine of the ancient site.

Intrepid hikers should come early in the morning to climb Huayna Picchu, the huge

mountain that looms over Machu Picchu. Another hiking option is to follow the

Inca Trail from the Caretaker's Hut to the high pass where the Sun Gate stands.

To stay right at the site, there's only one option: the

plush Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, perched outside the

entrance to the ruins. Its two restaurants have both

international and Peruvian specialties, such as ceviche and

alpaca carpaccio. Most hotels in the area line the main road

in nearby Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu

Pueblo: Ask for a room with balcony that overlooks the Río

Urubamba. For dining options in town, choose between small

Peruvian restaurants and pizzerias.

Machu Picchu is a spectacular citadel. I've been here 3

times and it never ceases to amaze especially for the peace

that passes. It is a magical place.

Incredible sensations and energy of this place,

something unparalleled and not enough words to

describe it. If you can walk the Inca trail doing much

better.

The Nazca Lines are widely considered among the greatest mysteries

of South America. Carved into the surface of the desert floor, the lines

are shallow, narrow and fragile. Some of them are several kilometers

long. The Nazca Lines are more than just lines in the sand. They are

ancient drawings called geoglyphs that were created over 1,000 years

ago by a tribe living in Peru's southwestern desert.

The drawings are in the form of animals, people, and plants that

played an important role in the culture and religion of this ancient tribe.

These include a whale, hummingbird, pelican, lizard, dog, human

hands, tree, stork, and many more. Some of the figures depict animals

that were native to this region, while other figures depict animals that

can only be found in the jungle and cloud forests, hundreds of miles

away.

This national reserve is a vicuña sanctuary high in the mountains

90km east of Nazca on the road to Cuzco. It is the best place to

see these shy animals in Peru, though tourist services are

virtually nonexistent. Every year in late May or early June is the

chaccu, when hundreds of villagers round up the vicuñas for

shearing and three festive days of traditional ceremonies, with

music and dancing, and of course, drinking. Full-day or overnight

tours from Nazca cost US$30 to US$90 per person.

Flying above as enigmatic lines and see those drawings

that may have originated beyond other worldly cultures.

Much I think about our origins and purpose on earth moves.

It is amazing

This is another of the wonderful buildings of our

beloved Earth. From the sky they are so well-defined

lines and drawings looks amazing.

It’s known who created them, and known approximately when they were created. The

mystery of the Nazca Lines is that nobody knows how they were created, or why.

You can see them

from a plane You can see them

from a gazebo

The Colca Canyon in southern Peru's Arequipa region is an area

of astounding scenic beauty, and one of Peru's top tourist

destinations. It is best known as one of the world's deepest

canyons, reaching a depth of 4,160 meters (13,640'), whose

depth can most easily be appreciated from the Cruz del Condor,

a viewpoint where Andean Condors can be seen most days

throughout the year.

It also offers a vibrant indigenous culture, high-quality handicrafts,

and a range of activities from adventure sports to mystical

tourism and tourist home-stays. The valley also features an

incredible amount of Inca and pre-Inca agricultural terraces and

the irrigation systems necessary to operate them.

Arequipa, known as the White City for its beautiful white walls of

sillar, a volcanic stone, lies at the feet of the mighty volcanos of

Mount Chachani, Mount Misti, and the snow covered peak of Mount

Pichu Pichu. The downtown of the city, placed on the World Cultural

Heritage list by UNESCO, features Mixed Baroque churches and

mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa

Catalina, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful

patios, and plazas. Sabandía, Tiabaya, and Tingo, located among

the large fields, are must see places, and the irresistible Arequipa

cuisine is the perfect complement to the visit.

Spectacular place. I recommend sleep in Chivay because you must go to Colca Valley at 5:00 am to see the flight of the condors.

Worth the crossing and the trip, the experience of

watching the flight of the condors is amazing. Visit the

different viewpoints and see the nearby towns are pretty

good too.

A journey to the Colca Valley usually takes about 3-1/2 hours via public bus,

across the high Andean plateau, reaching a high point of 4800 meters.

Tourists generally arrive in Chivay, a nice and very friendly town at the beginning

of the canyon, with plenty of hotels and hostels and restaurants.

Chivay is a good place to look for high-quality, locally-produced crafts, in particular

goods hand-knitted from 100% alpaca fiber, and elaborately embroidered goods

produced by hand on sewing machines (hats, coin purses, belts, etc.)

Peru's Amazon rain forest is one of the last true frontiers on earth

and a thrilling place for an adventure.

The Amazonas Region is a land of microclimates each containing

an extensive amount of biodiversity. Additionally, the department

was home to pre-Columbian civilizations that have left stunning

remnants of their once great culture. The capital of the

department, Chachapoyas, adds to the diversity of ecology and

culture as it is home to picturesque colonial architecture. The

streets of this city are narrow. It contains a main square as

common throughout Peruvian cities and maintains colonial

mansions and balconies which add to the flavor of the area's

mixed culture.

This area comprises 3, 479. 73 hectares of natural forest temporarily flooded, characterized in that it has plenty of trees and dominant population of renaco and aguaje.

This is a wildlife refuge, where most monkeys and birds, it is also the natural habitat of endangered species and vulnerable.

You can see a variety of plants such as ferns, lianas, orchids, bromeliads, among others. Among the fauna, mammals such as; otter, monkeys (monk saki, black monkey and Omeco) pelejo, achuni, anteater and others. Among the species of birds you can find: tarahui, flauterillo toucan manacaraco Heron; shirui and fish like tilapia, crappie, atinga, carachama, among others.

The guided visit Kuelap really worth. The fact reach it from Chachapoyas and recreates the view itself ... The walk, views, explanations of the guides, the environment, all contribute to transport us in time.

I love waterfalls and this one seriously blew me away. Amazing. Awesome - in the true sense of the word. A must-see for anyone in northern Peru and for anyone who likes waterfalls. If you're fit, the hike is pretty easy, though there are some pretty steep hills.

Arguably the most impressive destination of the

department is the ancient fortress of Kuélap. Often

referred to as the Machu Picchu of the north, Kuleap

was built by the Chachapoyas civilization, an ancient

tribe of warriors who resisted the Incas imperial

expansion. The Gocta Waterfall is in this department

and is the third highest waterfall in the world. As it was

only recently discovered in 2005, the Peruvian

government is making plans to develop it for tourism.